[68wSteve]

I have been recently thinking of changing lenses. I have the DA*300 and love the lense. I just wish there was more reach. I know there are a couple of TC's out there, i could probably pick up to give it more reach. Or pick up one of the Sigma Zoom Lenses 120-400 or 150-500mm. What other options do yall think might be out there. I will be selling the DA*300 with my K7 w/body grip to help fund the change. Any opinions, would be helpful. I am also tempted to wait for the Sigma 120-300 2.8 and put a TC on that, but wish we had a date for that as well.

Thanks

Steve

[baro-nite]

Have you read this recent thread? I'm in a similar position; love my DA* 200 but would like more reach. They say you'll always want more reach. Certainly less drastic to try a TC on your DA* 300 instead of selling; if you don't like the results you can look at other options.

[DogLover]

I would ask if you're willing to take a hit in IQ? Those two longer Sigmas are not in the same league as your current lens. The 120-300 would be, if they ever make it in a K-mount. But finding a TC to work with it might be a challenge. Sigmas current TCs won't work with that lens on a Pentax.

[RonHendriks1966]

There is a sigma 500mm on sale here (also new to buy). That would be the quality choice (and expensive).

[vicentesagredo]

i would say try a tc first, then try the sigma 500mm f4,5

[Canada_Rockies]

I would suggest trying the AFA 1.7x converter. Expensive, but very, very good. It would give you a semi-auto focus 510mm lens. The image quality won't take a large hit with this converter. In my Flickr set there is a set where I used it with the DA* 50-135, and the IQ is (IMHO) superb.

[rvannatta]

I have been recently thinking of changing lenses. I have the DA*300 and love the lense. I just wish there was more reach. I know there are a couple of TC's out there, i could probably pick up to give it more reach. Or pick up one of the Sigma Zoom Lenses 120-400 or 150-500mm. What other options do yall think might be out there. I will be selling the DA*300 with my K7 w/body grip to help fund the change. Any opinions, would be helpful. I am also tempted to wait for the Sigma 120-300 2.8 and put a TC on that, but wish we had a date for that as well.

Thanks

Steve

I love long lenses, but my take is that having a 300 in one's bag of tricks is absolutely critical. It's light enough and fast enough
to nearly always provide a successful photo---and user friendly enough to hand hold under a host of difficult conditions.

When you move out beyond that you are moving into the land of much less useful lenses. Unless you spend a kings ransom on one, they are slow, and satisfactory results are almost always limited to supports (tripods/bean bags etc).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing long lenses. I own some very expensive ones, but if I could only have one it would be a 300.

Actually if one is on a budget and only gets one lens beyond a 'normal' lense---- my choice would probably be the 60-250. pentax....

[BeerBelly]

Have you read this recent thread?

Just to give an update since I started that thread. I did decide to switch, so I sold the Sigma for $650 dollars and have the DA* 300mm on order now. I'm still on the lookout for a TC. My wish is the AFA 1.7x, but the prices for that are outrageous. I've heard some good things said about the Kenko 1.5 and 1.7x TCs and the DA. Best choice would be to test them out, but I don't have that option...